Since my first year of college, I had a keen interest in human rights and development issues; but, it was only the other week when I finally had the chance to work in both fields at one time.
Two weeks ago, Kopernik embarked on a partnership with KontraS, The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence, a prominent human rights NGO in Indonesia, to provide simple, life-improving technologies to survivors of human rights violations.
The partnership was launched with a two-day tech fair at KontraS' office on 3-4 December 2012. The tech fair educated survivors and families of survivors of human rights violations as well as the urban poor living in and around Jakarta about Kopernik’s simple, life-changing technologies. There were more than 100 people who attended.
Lincoln and I presented 10 technologies at the tech fair in Jakarta
I am fully aware that the absence of accountability by the government in resolving past human rights violations has resulted in a weak rule of law and access to justice for these survivors. Such injustice has resulted in tremendous difficulties for these victims of human rights violations to gain employment, health care and proper education. Consequently, victims have been left behind in Jakarta’s development and struggle with access to clean water and electricity.
To bridge the gap, KontraS and Kopernik have entered this groundbreaking initiative to provide simple technologies to survivors and to increase understanding of social and economic empowerment.
The first day opened with a speech by Vice Coordinator of KontraS, Syamsul Alam Agus. In Pak Alam’s speech, he emphasized the importance of empowerment programs like this in strengthening the advocacy work that KontraS has been doing over the past 14 years. He expressed his hopes that Kopernik’s life-changing technologies will empower the survivors and families of survivors of human rights violations in Indonesia.
The Vice Coordinator of KontraS, Syamsul Alam Agus, giving his opening speech
Afterwards, Kopernik Senior Project Officer Lincoln Sihotang continued with a brief explanation of Kopernik; then we both presented 10 technologies, ranging from solar lights to water filters to mosquito nets.
Lincoln and I, explaining about the water filters to the attendees of the tech fair
One of the attendees was very interested in the d.light S10 solar light
Lincoln is explaining to the women on how to use the biomass cookstove properly
Attendees were also able to try out the technologies by themselves, one of them was the adjustable spectacles
At the end of the presentation, the visitors were asked to break into groups and fill in brief surveys to choose the most-needed technologies. The 29 responses revealed water filters and solar lights as the most needed.
Two women were discussing about the technologies during the feedback collection
The result of the feedback collection
The second day featured an open exhibition of the technologies where anyone can come and try out the technologies themselves. (To get a sense on how our exhibition looked like, you can read this article in The Jakarta Post and this one in Antara)
Most of the visitors on the second day were university students and representatives of Jakarta-based NGOs who work in development or green technology. Unlike other Kopernik tech fairs, this time we ended our tech fair with a special panel discussion featuring Victor da Costa and Putri Kanesia from KontraS’ Impunity Monitoring Division and Lincoln from Kopernik. The panel discussed empowerment programs for survivors of violence and human rights violations and how access to life-changing technology could be one method to achieve the fulfillment of the victims’ economic rights.
(left to right) Victor da Costa (KontraS), Putri Kanesia (KontraS) and Lincoln Rajali Sihotang (Kopernik)
The two-day event closed with acoustic performances by several bands including Simponii, an Indonesian band that was recently awarded as the Runner Up of the Anti-Corruption International Music Competition, The Defenders (whose band members were mostly human rights lawyers of the Legal Aid Jakarta) and my very own indie-duo, Banda Neira.
This tech fair is only the start of Kopernik and KontraS’ collaboration to deliver life-improving technologies. Kopernik and KontraS are currently in talks to start a pilot project to distribute life-changing technologies for 150 survivors and families of survivors who reside in Jakarta and in the outskirts of Jakarta. If operations in Jakarta are successful (which I’m sure it will!), there is potential to expand the project with KontraS’ branch offices in Aceh, Sulawesi or Papua.
We also plan to establish a Wartek (Warung Teknologi) in cooperation with KontraS' co-operative. If this were to be established soon, then it would be Kopernik’s first Wartek branch-how exciting!
I know many people have raised their eyebrows whenever I say that access to technology is linked to the fulfillment of human rights. But, this tech fair with KontraS is proof it's only the start of how we’re here to prove them wrong.
